When a trainer or group instructor tells you to “tuck your tail”, what do you picture? What do you do?
The term “tuck” has become almost as much of a buzz word as “functional” on the fitness scene, and it’s starting trump the latter as my least favorite fitness term.
The term was originally intended to cue a neutral pelvis. Because most of us have certain degree of an anterior pelvic tilt, tucking our tail slightly returns our pelvis back to a neutral position that protects our lower back. BUT… More is better tends to be the way things go in fitness, so the tuck gets more severe and not only do we start to look like Steve Urkel, but we start to put our bodies at risk for injury!
Did you know that too much or a tuck can actually hurt your lower back?? Cause sciatica? Add to tightness of hip flexors and quads? Actually weaken your abs instead of strengthen them??
So the next time you are instructed to tuck your tail, try this. Think about pulling your belly button inward and upward – like you are trying to pull it underneath your rib cage. You will notice just a slight tuck of your pelvis and that is all that you need!
Check out the Shape Magazine article that we contributed to and learn more about the dos and don’ts of the infamous barre tuck
https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/How-Do-Barre-Tuck-42316194